The Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences hosted the 10th annual induction ceremony for Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta), the national biological honor society, on Apr. 25. This year, the college inducted 35 undergraduate students and one faculty member into the society’s Rho Rho chapter at NSU.
Providing opening remarks were Aurelien Tartar, Ph.D., assistant professor in the college and faculty adviser for TriBeta, and Robin Sherman, Ph.D., associate professor and associate director of the college’s Division of Math, Science, and Technology. The ceremony also featured a keynote talk by Veronica Akle, Ph.D., who earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the college in 2003.
Akle discussed her path from undergraduate biology student in TriBeta to dissertation-defending doctoral student conducting neural research on zebrafish. During her presentation, Akle recognized the faculty members who’ve mentored her along the way, and encouraged the new inductees to do the same for those who have helped them.
“We need to learn from the people who came before us … and enjoy our own paths to becoming biology professionals,” she said.
Also speaking at the event was Dennis Heard, D.O., an NSU alum and TriBeta member who now practices at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami. Heard said studying biology enables students to make a difference.
“It’s important to figure out how to apply what you’re learning,” he said. “Beta Beta Beta is an outlet to use your knowledge. It’s about the connections you make with other people and the effects you have on others’ lives.”
The new members were then inducted by current TriBeta officers. In addition to 35 undergraduate biology students, James Munoz, Ph.D., assistant professor in the college, also became a member of TriBeta. Officers for the 2012–2013 academic year were also sworn in during the ceremony.
The inductees pledged to uphold the values of TriBeta and then signed their names in the membership book, solidifying their induction into the honor society. Following the ceremony, the college hosted a reception for new members, who were joined in celebration by faculty, family, and friends.